Excavating bucket



Aug- 2 1932- F. H. HUNT ExcAvATlNG BUCKET originai Filed April 26. 192e2 Sheets-Sheet 1 2. L m 2W E f if Q/ D i D 5` Mula l/ Ll F m llg- 2,1932F. H. HUNT EXCAVATING BUCKET loriginal Filed April 26, 192e 2Sheets-Sheet 2 v7,6142 ymil-"R Mu-M BY ATTORNEY VPatented Aug. 2, 1932UNITED STATES PAT ENToFI-lca FRANCIS H. HUN'I, OF LEONIA, NEW JERSEY,ASSIGNOR TQRAYMOND CONCRETE PILE COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ACORPORATION F NEW JERSEY EXCAVATING BUCKET Original application led.April 26, 1926, Serial No. 153,097.A Divided and this application tiledApril 1927. Serial I@ paratus.

The bucket herein disclosed is of the rotary type, used commonly forsinking holes in theJv ground, to accommodate cylindrical columns ofconcrete or other material suitable for foundations of buildings,bridges, "etc.

The bucket has one or more discharge gates on its lower end, arrangedto'open and close like trap doors. The doors are provided with cuttingedges so arranged that when the 16 bucket is rotated the cutters diginto the ground and direct upwardly into the bucket the detritus formedby the knives. The feeding of the cutters into the ground is aided bythe weight of the bucket plus the weight of any other partsI of theapparatus resting thereon.

When it is desired to empty the bucket of its contents the bucket ishoisted `above the ground level and the discharge gates are released,thereby permitting the bucket to discharge its contents downwardlythrough the bottom of the bucket.

This invention pertains particularly to the devices for controlling thedischarge gate.

An object of the invention is to provide automatic means for keeping thegates closed while the bucket is being raised from the hole it has dugin the ground.

Another object is to providel automatic means for releasing the gateswhen the bucket is in position to dlscharge.

Another object is to provide means to automatically engage and supportthe bucket in discharging position.

Another object is to provide auxiliary means for jarring loose thegate-releasing device in case it should become stuck from handlingsticky material.

Further and other objects and advantages will be hereinafter set forthin the accompanying specification and claims, and shown .1n thedrawings, which by way of illustration show what is now considered to bethe preferred embodiment of the invention.' Fig. 1 is a cross-sectionthrough the' bucket,

showing the gate-control mechanism withv the gates closed.

Fig. 2 is a view-of a portion of the bucketoperating mechanism with thebucket supported in discharge position and the gates open. v

Fig 3 is a view of a portion of Fig. 2 from the right, except that thebottom of the bucket is closed to show a cutting edge.

Fig. 4 is a' detail cross section through the cross-head of F ig., 1. Y

Fig. 5 is a detail side elevation showing diametrically the position ofthe two cutting gates when closed;

Fig. 6 is a similar view showing one of the gates open; and

Fig. 7 is a bottom gates closed.

In operation the bucket is rotated by a telescope shaft or kellycomprising a number of concentric tubes, each tube driving the onewithin it as fully set forth in the oopending application abovementioned. The bucket is attached to and driven by the plan view withboth innermost'tube, which is of course the lowermost section when thekelly is extended, as

.it is when operating in a deep hole.

The top of the kelly or outer tube 130 is fast to gear 110, which isdriven by pinion 108 on the end of shaft 102. Shaft bearing 104 issupported on beams 106 forming part of the framework of the machine.

The lower end of the inner section 146 is provided with a4 flange 148,which is bolted to one of the two bails 150 of the bucket 152 (Fig. 1).

The kelly adapts its length to any depth of hole, within its capacity,and whenever gear 110 turns the kelly is turned with it to rotate thebucket. The bucket is provided on opposite lower portions withoppositely inclined edges as shown at 152a and 152b and at diametrically`opposite points intermediate the length of said edges are hinged gatesor doors 176"i and 176b provided with cutting edges 1764c arranged onradial lines and positioned on diametrically opposite halves of thebottom. It will be seen from an inspection of Figs. 5 and 7 that thedetritus from the cut-y ters enters the bucket in the space 176d formedbetween the raised half of the gate 17 6b and the lower cutting edge176c of the gate 17 6a.

While I have shown one form which is the preferred form of gates andcutters I wish it to be understood that any conventional construction ofcutting gates may be employed without in any way departing from thespirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

The hoisting of the bucket is accomplished by means of one of thehoisting drums, for instance drum 44, around which is wound one end ofcable 156. This cable passes over a head sheave and its free end isattached to the upper end of the center rod 160 which passes downwardlythrough the kelly and is provided at its lower end with a ball bearing162 held in place by nut 164. As the bucket rotates to the right whiledigging, nut 164 is provided with a left thread in order that there willbe a constant tendency to tighten, instead of to loosen, the nut.

The mechanism just described is also used I to open and close the bucketfor dumping purposes. In the drawings, no attempt is made toshow-details of the gate structure, because it is intended to coverthose features in another application. For purposes of illustration thedrawings show double gates, swinging both ways, because that is the preIferred form, but a single gate may be controlled in the same manner asthe double gate.

Supported vertically in the upper part of the bucket are two parallelguide rods 166. The upper ends of rods 166 are fast to a bail 150 andthe lower ends fast to cross brace 168 provided forl the purpose.Slidably mounted on rods 166 is the crosshead 170. Rod 160 passesdownwardly through the crosshead and the upper side of bearing 162 bearsagainst the under side of the crosshead. At,- tached 'to the under sideof 'the crosshead is the downwardly extending semi-circular yoke 172which surrounds bearing 162 and nut 164. Attached to yoke 172 are chains174 extending to each bucket gate 176.

The operative position of the above described parts is shown in Fig. 1.When it is desired to dump the bucket, it is hoisted by means of drum44, line 156 and rod 160, to the vposition shown in Fig. 2, in whichposition bail 150 is engaged by the two spring controlled latches 178,pivoted on beams 106 and so placed that their hook ends 180 willautomatically engage the under side of bail 150 when the bail is drawnpast them. The latches are actuated by coil springs 182 anchored tobeams 106.

If when the bucket is hoisted the bail is not properly aligned to engagelatches 178, the bucket 1s rotated to proper position by gear 110, undercontrol of the operator.

After the latches have engaged the bail, cable 156 is slacked oli,permitting the weight of thev bucket and contents to be carried by thelatches. Still further slacking of cable 156 permits rod 160 to lower tothe position shown in Fig. 2, thereby relieving the tension in chains174 and permitting gates 176 to open, urged by their own weight and theweight of the contents of the bucket. If the .crosshead should bindon-rods 166 the weight cable 186 and bail 188 to both latches 178,v

therefore when handle 184 is drawn down the latch hooks 180 are drawnfrom underneath bail 150 and the bucket is again carried by cable 156and is ree to descend at the will of the operator to resume diggingoperation.

Handle 184 is so located with reference to the other control devices ofthe complete machine that the dumping of the bucket is under easycontrol of the same operator who handles the other operations of themachine.

While the digging operation is taking place, considerable pressure isrequired on top of the bucket to insure digging at proper speed. Thispressure is supplied by the kelly. Any desired fraction of the weight ofthe kelly is allowed to rest on the bucket by the simple expedient ofkeeping proper tension ip cable 156 by means of the brake on drum It isto be understood that the invention is not limited to the constructionherein specitically illustrated but can be embodied in other formswithout departure from its spirit.l

I claimons4 y l. In a machine of the class described, in

ofv said bucket, means for operatively connecting said cross-head tosaid gate, said cross-head operating to close said gate when movedupwardly and to release said gate when moved downwardly, means forhoisting said bucket, said hoisting meansy being constantly connected tosaid cross-head and adapted to apply pressure either downwardly orupwardly to said cross-head at the will of the operator and means forrotating said bucket while said hoisting means is operative.

2. The invention set forth in cla-im 1, in which said hoisting meansincludes a vertical rod, said rod being operatively connected with saidcross-head to rest its weight thereon or to apply hoisting elortthereto.

3. The invention set forth in-claim 1, in

necting said hoisting means with said crosshead s0 as to provide lostmotion between said hoisting means and said crosshead,

whereby said hoisting means may be utilizedto impart a vertical blow tosaid 'crosshead.

4. In a machine of the class described, in combination, a rotatingdigging bucket, digging elements carried by said bucket, meanspermanently connected to the bucket for raising and lowering saidbucket, and means for operating said bucket to dig into the earth whilesaid raising and lowering means is operative, said operating means beingindependent of said raising and lowering means.

5. In a machine of the class described, in

combination, a rotating digging bucket, a

door closing the lower end of said bucket and carrying an earth diggingelement, raising and lowering means for said bucket permanentlyconnected thereto and operatively connected with said door whereby thedoor is held in closed position when the bucket is raised and the dooris released for dumping when the raising means is relaxed, and means foroperating said bucket to dig into the earth while the raising andlowering means is operative, said operatingmeans being independent ofsaid raising and lowering means.

6. In a machine of the class described, in combination, a rotatingdigging bucket, digging elements carried by said bucket, means forhoisting said bucket constantly connected thereto, said hoisting meansbeing operatively connected to said bucket, and means for driving thebucket to cause the elements to dig into the earth, said hoisting meansextending through the drive.

7. In a machine of the class described, in combination a rotating bucketcarrying digging elements, means for hoisting said bucket, said hoistingmeans being operatively connected to the bucket and includinga rod lyingin the axis of said bucket, and means for driving said bucket to causethe digging elements to dig into the earth and ill the bucket.

8. In a machine of the class described, in combination, a diggingbucket, means for rotating said bucket including a tubular shaft axiallysecured to'the bucket, and a raising and lowering element passingthrough said shaft and connected to the bucket.

9. Ina machine of the class described, in combination, a bucket, a doorclosing the lower end of said bucket, a diggin element thereon, meansfor rotating said ucket to cause said digging element to dig into theground including a tubular shaft axially secured to the bucket, and araisin and lowerv ing element passing through said shaft and connectedto said bucket and door.

In testimony whereof I hereto aliix my signature.

FRANCIS H. HUNT.

